Oklahoma, along with Arizona has been cracking down on the employers of illegal aliens, prompting up to a third of the illegal immigrants in some areas to voluntarily leave the states.
Some are returning to Mexico, prompting legislators there to
seek help for their burgeoning welfare system.
But some are opting to stay in the U.S., and move to states which have historically been more receptive to illegal immigrants. The Houston Chronicle
is reporting on the problems faced by the Houston community as a result of the influx, with mixed reaction from the citizens:
''Texas is still very much an entrepreneurial place, where you can find your
place in this economy," said James Hollifield, a Southern Methodist University
professor and migration expert. ''It's not an immigrant's paradise, but if you
work hard and keep your head down you can get ahead."
Mayra Figueroa, director of American For Everyone, a Houston nonprofit that advocates for labor rights of immigrants, said the strict laws in other states are pushing immigrants to Houston.
''There were a lot of people moving from Houston to
Oklahoma, and now they're coming back because they are not able to work," said
Figueroa, adding that many of them are Central American refugees. ''I can say
hundreds of families are coming to cities like Houston, because of the
law."
But the influx of undocumented workers into Texas is not welcomed by
everyone. Critics say illegal immigrants are taxing government resources, such
as hospital emergency rooms and public schools.
''That is not good," Larry Youngblood, leader of the Houston chapter of the Texas Border Volunteers, said about the new wave of immigrants. ''We've got about 400,000 to 450,000 in Houston already. And obviously they're not all day laborers — not all are criminals — but we don't need more."
''We have to assume they'll bring some wives and kids with them, so therefore our schools will be re-inundated. And traffic will be worse, too." (Much more, here.)
What do you think? Has the exodus of illegal immigrants hurt or helped your local economy?OKPNS is seeking stories about the effect of illegal immigration on your community in Oklahoma. Please e-mail
okpns_editor@hotmail.com.
Labels: HB 1804, Immigration Reform
Posted at 2/04/2008 07:02:00 AM
